Art Therapy Program

In Term 4 the Art Therapy Program for Year 8 students, focussed on stress management and self-expression. The sessions provided a safe and creative space where students explored the concept of stress, its impact on the body, and ways to process it through artistic expression. 

Some of the students’ definitions of stress included:

‘Stress means to feel overwhelmed in thoughts and feelings. Usually the thoughts and feelings are negative and can affect us in our everyday lives’

‘Sweaty hands/feet, sore stomach, wide eyes, fast heart-beat, fast/agile movement, headache’

‘Stress feels a bit like a scribble instead of a brain or something going around your mind very quickly’

‘To me stress is a bunch of emotions into one’

‘Stress is a feeling of being unable to relax. I’m in my head thinking all the worst things that could happen…’

‘Stress is when are freaking out and feel scared but you can also hide stress but on the inside you’re really bad’

Many students shared that the program left them feeling understood, empowered, and better equipped to navigate the challenges of stress, creating a sense of connection through making friends and a shared enthusiasm for artistic expression. 

Shanzeh Reusch - Student Wellbeing Counsellor